Katherine’s povI woke up the next morning as my alarm rang out. I looked at my phone and knew my brother was coming in today. I also had an interview later that morning.With a sigh, I got out of bed and went to have my bath.I wasn’t going to think too much about it. I would instead calm myself and make sure I didn’t cry when I would see him in that stretcher.It didn’t take long for me for me to finish at home and call a cab to take me to the hospital.I got there and entered as I waited in the waiting room before an ambulance showed up and my brother was taken into the hospital.I watched as they rolled the bed and sighed.They rushed him to his bed as a nurse came to me.“Please, miss. We’ll get him situated first.”I nodded as the doctor left while I stayed in the hallway before a doctor came to me.He walked right over to me. “Miss Katherine?”“Yes,” I said quickly, standing up before I knew it.He motioned for me to follow. “Let’s talk in my office.”I nodded and followed him
Katherine’s povThere was a tap at my door after a few moments and a worried voice. “Hey, it’s me. Need anything? Or should we leave you alone with your misery?”I sniffled. “Come in.”She laughed and entered as she had a large bag of chips and two bottles of soda.She saw me and just kicked off her sandals, climbed onto my bed, cross-legged, and ripped the bag open.“What’s wrong?” She asked in concern. “What are you crying?”“I got fired.”Her eyes widened. "What? But you just started!""They found out I was pregnant." My voice broke on the last word.“You got fired for being pregnant? Wow. That’s a new record in job hunting and losing.”I scoffed. “Yeah.”“People are such assholes. Like it’s a disease or something. You didn’t apply to be a mountain climber, you applied to shuffle papers. What the hell does your belly have to do with that?”I laughed, a bitter little sound. “Apparently everything.”She shoved the chip bag at me. “Eat. Misery tastes better with salt.”I laughed and t
Katherine’s povThe plane I was in landed as I shuddered awake and looked around me. We had landed in the next country I was going to.It was real now. I wasn’t just running away. I was gone. A whole new country. A whole new start.When I stepped out of the airport, pulling my little roller suitcase behind me, everything seemed too loud. Horns honking, voices talking quickly in accents that weren’t mine, air that smelled like spices and smoke… it was a lot to take in… but at the same time… freeing… because no one knew me here right? No one cared… I was just another face.I got into a cab and headed to a guesthouse where i rented a small room and entered to relax. The bed didn’t feel comfortable and the air in here felt like someone had taken a fart all night long. Something had clearly died.I opened the window but it shut itself and I sighed before laying back in bed.This was going to be hard but I would do this.I laid in bed and placed a hand on my stomach. “It’s okay. We’ll get
Zelda’s pov“She won’t,” I repeated, firmer this time. “Do you know why? Because she doesn’t have it in her. She doesn’t have the spine. A woman like Katherine—she folds. She takes the money, she runs. She doesn’t fight. That’s her nature. That’s why she was so easy to move off the board.”The lawyer shifted in his chair, his discomfort obvious in the way he tapped his pen against the folder on his lap. “Still… I would advise caution. People have a way of surprising you when you least expect it. In my years, it’s the quiet ones that bite the hardest and they never let go until their target is dead.”I smiled and leaned in my seat. “You don’t know Katherine. I do. She’s gone.”He nodded. “If you say so, then you’re right.”He then got up and bowed before leaving the office.I sat there, smiled slightly, feeling something beneath the smile push against my chest like a restless heart. I forced it down.She was gone.Nothing else was ever of consequence. It was just face i was worried abo
Katherine’s povThe silence by the car was hard and cutting. Especially with both our faces on the door window; one, as hollow and spent as she felt inside right now, and the other, as fierce as it was broken."You should stay and fight" she whispered finally, her voice trembling, "at least fight". I shook my head, a bitter smile curving on my lips " Fight?" I repeated hollowly, "Fight. Against what? They have already won Grace Zelda and Renee they've won! And me? I’ve lost so what’s the fucking point. You keep making me sound like a broken record but it’s over.”She was shocked as I opened the door and entered before pushing a button as the window went down.“You can stay here or come with me. There’s enough money for us both.”She stayed by the door for a while before stepping away.“I’ll stay,” she said as I sighed.“That was a stupid choice,” I said, “but good luck.”She just stood there, staring at me with a look that said everything words couldn’t.And God, it killed me.I roar
Katherine’s povMaybe he had really chosen this. Maybe he had written that letter, recorded those words. Maybe he had decided I wasn’t worth the fight.Or maybe—maybe they had twisted everything. And I’d never know.The tears came then, hot and fast.With a deep sigh, I coveeed my mouth to stop the sob from escaping my lips. This was the first time since I returned that I felt hurt this bad. From day one they had treated me like I didn’t belong and now… now they were truly showing me that I didn’t belong.But deep down, beneath all the hurt, beneath all the shame, something else was beginning. A tiny little spark of anger.They had thought they destroyed me with a pen and chequebook. But I wasn’t ready to be put out to pasture just yet.I rubbed at my face, grinding my exhaustion. My legs shook when I got up. I stood anyway. Because this was over. But there was something new out there.I would get out of the house. I’d take their money and their gifts, and I’d build something they co